Woman, 33, Hasn’t Urinated in 18 Months Following Complex UTI
A 33-year-old woman from the UK is speaking out after a urinary tract infection (UTI) lead to a devastating condition leaving her unable to urinate for over a year and a half, and with no prospect of regaining the ability. The ordeal drove her to suicidal thoughts as she grapples with a life fundamentally altered by Fowler’s syndrome, a rare and poorly understood bladder dysfunction.
The woman’s experience highlights a critical gap in awareness surrounding catheter use and urological health, particularly among younger individuals. Every 90 minutes,a life is lost to suicide in the UK,and this case underscores the profound mental health impact of chronic illness and hidden disabilities. Her story aims to destigmatize living with a catheter and foster open dialog about conditions like Fowler’s syndrome, which can have a devastating effect on quality of life.
The initial UTI, which she described as “harmless,” triggered a cascade of complications. Following treatment, she began experiencing retention, eventually requiring intermittent self-catheterization. This progressed to complete inability to void, leading to a diagnosis of Fowler’s syndrome – a condition where the bladder loses its ability to contract, frequently enough following a UTI or surgery.
“I haven’t peed for 18 months & NEVER will after UTI left me feeling suicidal,” she stated, detailing the emotional toll of her condition.
Fowler’s syndrome affects an unknown number of people, but is believed to be underdiagnosed due to a lack of awareness.The condition often requires lifelong catheterization to drain the bladder, and can significantly impact physical and mental wellbeing.
The woman is now advocating for increased understanding of catheter use and Fowler’s syndrome, hoping to connect with others facing similar challenges and encourage more open conversations about urological health.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide. It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society - from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers. It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women. Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice.
